Archived Newsroom • Press Release |
|
Russian Federation increases financial contribution to ITU
Support to enhance the role of ITU in global ICT
development
Geneva, 14 October 2011 – The
Russian Federation announced a significant increase in its financial support to
ITU, raising its ‘contributory units’ from ten to fifteen, amounting to CHF
4,777,000, or about USD 5.32 million at current exchange rates. Each
‘contributory unit’, which ITU Member States provide on a voluntary basis, is
CHF 318,000.
This increase is in addition to the CHF 5 million contribution from the Russian
Federation towards the refurbishment of ITU’s main conference hall, now
dedicated to Alexander Stepanovich Popov (1859-1906), the Russian physicist who
first demonstrated the practical application of electromagnetic waves.
Announcing the increase at the ITU Council meeting in Geneva today, Mr Andrei
Mukhanov, Director General of the Department of International Affairs of the
Russian Federation,
speaking on behalf of the Minister of Telecom and
Mass Communications,
Mr Igor Shchegolev,
cited the significant work of ITU in coordinating telecommunications development
worldwide. “Without telecommunications we can no longer lead a normal life,” Mr
Mukhanov said. “We therefore wish to develop, strengthen and enhance the role of
ITU in the future as the leading international organization in information and
communication technologies.”
Accepting the contribution, ITU Deputy Secretary-General Houlin Zhao said the
Russian Federation is a Founding Member of ITU and has consistently supported
ITU in its endeavours.
Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré recalled
his meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin last June when Mr Putin said
Russia was determined to contribute to the work of the Union and to strengthen
the collaboration with the organization. “The support of the Russian Federation,
and especially the substantial increase in the financial contribution to ITU,
reaffirms the country’s long-standing dedication to ITU and its commitment to
connect the world,” Dr Touré said. “Russian political support for ITU in its
146-year history along with its technical and scientific expertise has
contributed immensely to the growth and development of information and
communication technologies worldwide.”
Dr Touré noted that Russian contribution has been particularly significant in
the areas of space exploration and radiocommunication. “It is poignant that we
have been informed of this very welcome gesture of support from the Russian
Federation in this conference hall which only this week was dedicated to the
Russian pioneer and scientist Alexander Stepanovich Popov.”
For more information, please contact:
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
|
|
|
Facebook:
www.itu.int/facebook
Twitter:
www.itu.int/twitter
About ITU...